Discussion Board
Prompt
The story about Mrs. Jones highlights several advantages and
disadvantages of widespread use of, and reliance upon, technology in the
classroom. Address the following:
1. Identify one advantage and describe how it impacts technology use in
educational settings. Support your answer with examples based upon your
prior knowledge and experience. (150 words.)
2. Identify one disadvantage and describe how it impacts technology use
in educational settings. Support your answer with examples based upon
your prior knowledge and experience. (150 words.)
1. One advantage of technology in the classroom is that students are able
to communicate with people from all over the world and gain a more global
understanding of life. Prior to the Internet, students were not able to
interact directly with people from far away without a large time gap
between their communications. For example, when I did a pen pal project
in elementary school, we did not receive letters for a very long time.
However, with the Internet, students can send emails along with digital
photos of themselves and their communities. They can even publish class
websites to share with sister schools in other states or in other
countries. Today, even video can be posted, and that can give a real
insight to other people's lives. In the class where I observed in my
freshman year, the teacher actually had the students communicate with
students in Egypt through email and the students took a digital camera
and took pictures of their neighborhood and classroom.
2. One disadvantage of technology in the classroom is that it is hard to
monitor what the students are doing on the Internet. While there are many
great sources that students can use and learn from, there are also
websites with factual errors and inappropriate material.
Even if students do not want to see inappropriate content, they may click
on a misleading link and be forced to view something traumatizing. When I
was in middle school, some of the students would look for images of women
instead of doing the research projects. The teacher has to be vigilant.
Also, when I was in high school, I was doing a research project and my
group used information from an unreliable source. We had points deducted
from our score because the author of a website was biased and did not
conduct proper research. It is important for the teacher to educate the
class about how to evaluate web pages since there is such a wide range of
sources on the web.
Posted by Philip Vogel at May 4, 2006 02:34 PM
A huge advantage to technology use in the classroom is being able to keep
students up to date on the latest information. It helps students get the
newest information on the topics that are current events in our society.
It is also helpful because many schools do not have the money to update
their books. There are some middle school and high schools that are using
some very out dated text books. In these situations it is hard to give
the students new and correct information. It can be difficult for a
teacher to find the resources to help their students learn important
historical events or updated theories in science. With the use of
computers and other forms of technology it can be easier for a teacher to
do so. Situations like I have described show the importance of having
technology in the classroom. It is also important that students get some
exposure to computers because they are very common in many individuals'
daily lives.
In contrast there are disadvantages to technology in the classroom. One
of the biggest reasons, that it can be difficult to use technology in
daily school lessons, is the lack of safety or security. It is difficult
for teachers to keep track of what every student is doing. Many students
can be chatting online with their friends, and cause distractions from
what they are supposed to be learning or accomplishing. It is even harder
for a teacher to guarantee that their students are talking to friends and
not a sexual predator. If students are giving out too much information
about themselves it can lead to serious safety issues for all the
students involved. Students can also be searching the web and eventually
come across a virus. This can be a serious security issue because the
whole network the student is using maybe infected and lead to other
larger problems; for example, shutting down the whole network in the
school. Although it can be difficult; it is important to keep very close
attention to what your students are doing online
Posted by Brittany Hilton at May 4, 2006 02:00 PM
Question #1
The only good thing that the teacher seemed to be doing, even though she
was abusing the use of technology by piracy, was encouraging the students
to use an atlas program and the internet in order to learn more about the
country they are studying. The computer programs, such as an atlas
program, are usually very interactive and are helpful for most varieties
of learners. Furthermore, the teacher has them take their information,
compile it, organize it, and present in the form of a Power Point
Presentation. It is important that the students learn how to research
their information using the internet, as well as using other materials
such at the atlas. Especially when the project is centered on a country,
the students will need to use multiple resources, which are usually
readily available on the internet. Lastly, the power point presentations
are great ways to learn how to organize your thoughts, transition well
into subtopics, and have a visual representation of what they had learned
from the research.
Question #2
The first disadvantage that was apparent while I was reading was the
blatant piracy by the teacher. She only had one copy of the software
program. Instead of only installing it on one computer and have the
students take turns on using the software, she installed the program on
all twenty-two computers in the lab. This is piracy. Also, by modeling
this behavior in front of her students, she is in turn teaching her
students that it is okay to use pirated programs. Unfortunately, it is
illegal, so the teacher is engaging her students in illegal activity. In
this case, the teacher would be in trouble, but she could also be getting
the entire school, including the students, in trouble if they were
discovered using the pirated information. Regardless, it is poor
character for a teacher to teach the students piracy rather than teach
them the legal procedures and correctly install and use a software
program, such as the atlas program.
Posted by Jordan L. Atkinson at May 4, 2006 02:11 PM
1. An advantage of technology is the increase in information that is
readily available. With the Internet, students have the ability to
quickly research any topic they can think of. They can find multiple
sources of information for comparison. For example, before the increase
in technology, a student would have had limited resources to research
certain topics. If a student wanted to do a project on lemurs, and there
were no books specifically about lemurs in the school library, they would
have been constrained to the little blurb in the encyclopedia. With the
Internet, students can access mass amounts of information, from text to
pictures to videos. Additionally, the use of computer software provides
increased information. Before technology in the classroom, maps and
globes were the only methods of visualizing the rest of the world. Now
software programs can take you on guided journeys to distant places, with
graphic depictions of the weather, culture, and people of these places. I
feel that with technology, students are exposed to much more information,
and that this information is richer and more engaging.
2. There are also many disadvantages to technology. With the great wealth
of information that is readily available, children are discouraged from
becoming expert on any one topic. Whereas before for a report on a
country, a student might have read multiple books on the area, they now
have the option of just doing a quick search, cut and paste session on
the Internet. Their reports will contain the same general information,
but they will not have absorbed as much as the student who read the
books. Traditional forms of learning have fallen by the wayside. Reading
and writing are no longer valued as much. Spelling is a good example.
Teachers used to emphasize the importance of correct spelling, for school
matters and later in life in the workplace. With the advent of spellcheck
in word processing programs, spelling is no longer considered to be
important. Students are graduating and going into the workplace without
the ability to spell simple words. Technology can be good, but should be
used in addition to traditional methods, rather than in place of.
Posted by Katie Pipeling at May 4, 2006 02:13 PM
Question 1:
One advantage of using technology in the classroom is that students are
able to research and access information while in school that they would
normally have to complete at home. Most often, students use the Internet
and other computer-related sources to complete assignments, rather than
using textbooks or encyclopedias. Having a computer in the classroom with
programs that allow students to complete research helps them access the
necessary information much faster and more efficiently. Also, this
improves the performance of students while working in groups. It is often
difficult to do group research outside of school - students often have
trouble setting meeting times or dividing work evenly. With a computer in
the classroom, groups are able to complete the research together so no
one is doing more work than any other group member. When I was a student
in elementary school, middle school, and even high school, I did not have
computers in the majority of my classrooms. If we did happen to have a
computer, it was rarely used. Many of my assignments during high school
were group projects that we had to do extensive research for. It was
difficult to meet with all the group members outside of class because
many of us did not drive, or had busy schedules with a lot of
extracurricular activities. An in-class computer with research programs
would have been a great tool to have when completing these assignments.
The work would have been done completely and evenly much quicker than it
was.
Question 2:
Using a similar example, one disadvantage of widespread use of, and
reliance of, technology in the classroom is that students and teachers
often become too reliant upon the computer and its features. Today, the
majority of students and teachers complete their research through the
Internet and other computer-related sources. This causes many people to
never step foot in a library or use actual books to do research. All
students should know how to use a card catalog in a library or
encyclopedias for research purposes. While the Internet and other
computer sources are reliable, efficient, and helpful, sometimes books
have more detailed or appropriate information that is often skipped over.
I know that in high school, and especially college, I barely accessed the
library or used books to complete my research or other assignments. The
majority of the time I relied on Internet sources and online articles or
dictionaries for my research. While I may have had accurate and complete
information, there may have been details that I missed because I did not
use any books for my assignment.
Posted by Laura Barrish at May 4, 2006 02:16 PM
1. The story about Mrs. Jones is very realistic and highlights several
issues teachers face with widespread use of technology in the classroom.
Mrs. Jones downloaded a copy of the atlas program on each computer in the
lab so that each child could use the software. Additionally, she
encouraged her students to surf the Internet and copy and paste
information they found and wanted to use in their presentations. One
advantage of what Mrs. Jones did was that she enabled each student to
have access to the atlas program on his or her individual computers. This
way, each student could navigate through the countries and have hands on
learning experiences. In my prior experiences, I have found that children
love to feel like they have freedom and they especially love to use
technology. I think that Mrs. Jones was able to give them both by
downloading multiple copies of the same program. If each student is not
given the same programs to use or the same materials, they will complain
that it is not fair. I think Mrs. Jones did a good job of making sure
every one of her students would be able to complete the assignment and
have access to all the necessary resources.
2. Mrs. Jones' story also has some disadvantages of widespread use and
reliance on technology. One of the biggest disadvantages of allowing
students to have access to their own individual computer is that the
teacher loses a lot of control of the class. In the story, students were
being loud, they were looking at inappropriate websites, and they got a
glimpse at some confidential material. In a normal classroom setting, a
teacher would be able to know exactly what a student is doing and looking
at, but at a computer it is very difficult to keep the students on task.
Computers provide a lot of information but even more distractions. I know
from my own experiences with working with computers, that it can be very
difficult to get work done when so many people are online to talk to and
there are interesting websites to search. In my computer class, there are
always students looking at inappropriate sites, and not many students, if
any are on task for the entire period. I think that younger children
would have an even harder time focusing because they are not as used to
the freedom that having access to a computer would give them. Although I
think Mrs. Jones' intentions were good, and that overall technology use
in the classroom is imperative, I think that if it is not closely
monitored it can have negative results.
Posted by Amber Holian at May 4, 2006 02:18 PM
One advantage of using technology in the classroom is being able to
introduce new topics by using motivating software. In the past, teachers taught primarily out of books. With the complex material that we
expect our students to know, it is extremely helpful to have technology
as an assistant. Using different types of software allows all of the
students to be on the same page with guided instruction from the teacher
when needed. Technology can be an excellent tool in the classroom as long
as it is used appropriately and effectively. Tools such as PowerPoint,
word, excel, and the Internet are all tools that are being used more
widely and effectively in the classroom. Proper supervision should be
implemented when working with students to unsure that they are staying on
task and using the materials appropriately. Students and teachers can
benefit greatly from the use of technology, which will help increase
motivation and determination to do well overall.
In contrast, one disadvantage of using technology in the classroom is the
issue of software duplication/piracy. Teachers often overlook the fact
that there are copyright laws that affect them as well. It is important
that teachers set an appropriate model for students by not going against
copyright laws. The production of software and other electronic materials
is very expensive; therefore, the producers of this software should be
adequately paid for their work. If teachers ignore this they are
practically telling their students that stealing is ok. There are even
options for schools to purchase these materials in bulk so that there is
an affordable price for educational purposes. Therefore, teachers and
administrators should take advantage of these options, while setting a
good role model example for their students. If our own teachers do not
follow the laws and act responsibly, how can we ask this behavior from
our students?
Posted by Michelle Cokinos at May 4, 2006 02:19 PM
1. Years ago, using technology in a classroom was unheard of. However,
since the creation of computers, it is an idea that is becoming much more
common. Computers and other technological devices can actually be
incredibly helpful to students in the classroom.
There are many advantages to using technology in a classroom. First of
all, students are able to learn about anything in the world in a second
by a click of the mouse. Students can look up foreign countries, past
presidents, mathematical formulas, and anything else that they are
researching. School projects can become more in depth and more factual
because of online encyclopedia and websites. Instead of students having
to go though books to find information and piece it together, it is
simple to find anything on the Internet.
In addition, using the Internet in a classroom is often times more fun
and interesting than completing dittos. Webquests are a fun way to engage
students in learning activities. Webquests allow students to go on a
learning adventure to solve a given problem. They usually contain colors,
music, and fun language to engage students. Simulation software is also a
fun way to engage students in learning. It allows students to simulate
real life situations and learn without even realizing they are learning.
2. Although there are many advantages, there is one disadvantage to using
technology in the classroom. Using computers all day to research and
write reports causes students to rely completely on computers only.
Students often have trouble handwriting papers and simple essays.
Students do not focus on spelling anymore because they know they have spell check to help them out. When writing papers on the computer,
students grammar is also corrected for them. When they were forced to
handwrite
papers, they were forced to learn vital tools such as spelling and
grammar.
Students also miss out on reading books to get information. They can
access sections of journals and books online and never need to set foot
in a library. There are valuable things that students can learn from
books that they are missing out on.
Activities that used to require students getting out into the real world
and experiencing things can now be done on the computer. Simulations can
be done instead of real life. Instead of students experiencing science
projects in a lab, they can just do it on the computer. Instead of them
visiting foreign countries and getting a cultural experience, they can
just see it online. It seems that technology in the classroom may be
taking over real life.
Posted by Michele Weitz at May 4, 2006 02:23 PM
By technology here, we are referring specifically to the use of computers
in an educataional setting. From the perspective of the teacher,
computers vastly simplify the chore of keeping grades. Gone are the days
of a ledger book and manually calculating averages. Even though Mrs.
Jones unwisely left her grade book open on the computer the fact remains
that she was utilizing it. I think that too frequently todays students take for granted the wealth of information available to them
on the Internet and online reference materials (legal or not). I still
remember the time and effort required to visit the library, locate a book
that would have the information sought, and then having to copy out
pertinent points by hand because the copy machine was off limits for
students. Having all of this information accessible at the click of a few
mouse buttons is a tremendous boon to students. Whether they use it
properly or abuse it (as in the story), is something that will probably
still be debated twenty years from now.
A disadvantage of using the computer for research is the cast-off status
books have acquired. From a physiological standpoint, when a person reads
print on a page their brain is actually processing slightly different.
The texture, natural wrinkles, and non-constant distance from ones eyes that a person experiences when they read real print are
healthier. I, for one, am a lazy person. If I can save a trip to the
library and get information (often watered down) by just ambling over to
my workstation, googling the desired query, and then reading about what I
wanted to know, Ill do that. The vast majority of our civilizations written trail still exists solely in a non-electronic form. By having
our students always go to the Internet or use online tools to aide their
learning, we are doing them a disservice. If most research in school is
online research, the idea of looking in a processed tree to find
information will not come as readily to our students minds. In essence,
we shelter them from the real world we claim to be
preparing them for.
Posted by Troy Elliott at May 4, 2006 02:24 PM
1.Mrs. Jones story was very interesting. Her day seemed to have started off fine,
then not too good, then a bit better towards the end of the day. I could
tell she was frustrated and tired towards the end of the day based on her
students actions during the day. I noticed an advantage that impacts
technology
use in educational settings. Students are assigned different projects,
and since technology is increasingly becoming better, students nowadays
use the Internet for research on class projects, class assignments,
presentation, etc. Mrs. Jones states in her directions that the students [can] freely use any information from the internet for their
presentation.The Internet offers a wide range of useful information that students
can use. They can surf the Internet for useful sites to support their
topic or area of subject. Many things are found from using Internet
sources, so using technology in the classroom based on finding
information is important for students to learn more.
2.A disadvantage of using technology in the classroom is that students
can heavily rely on using the Internet as the only source for finding
information. Yes, they can use the Internet, but this is the easy way
out. Students should be able to know what information is useful, and find
other information in books, journals, newspapers, etc. They should not
rely solely on Internet sites because most of the information on there
may not be presented in a correct manner. The students need to be careful
of what they find on the Internet, and not be allowed to just use any
website they come across that has a topic related to theirs. They need to
know about credential sites and important sites. They may be prone to
copy and paste information in their projects, but this might be a
problem. They cannot use others information without citing it correctly,
or giving the site or author
credit. For example, in order to complete a project, a student needs a
sentence quote to support his or her argument. The student finds a quote,
writes it in her presentation, and does not quote it or cite it. This is
plagiarism. The student is taking another persons idea and using it as his or her own. The students need to learn things
about citing sources, copyright materials, etc.
Posted by Natasha Nzuwah at May 4, 2006 02:25 PM
1. Mrs. Jones makes a lot of mistakes in her teaching and through her use
of technology in the classroom. There are several small advantages in her
story, one of which is that it is very realistic. I feel as if her
response to disruptive behavior and busy schedule are things that all
teachers have to deal with. Another advantage is that ever child has
access to the Internet and the atlas program, which means their learning
is enriched. We have spent a lot of time talking about how and why we
should incorporate technology into our classrooms. It provides a new
source of information and learning for your students as well as helps
them fine tune skills such as reading and writing. Since each child has a
computer, they can learn many facts about the country they are studying
by accessing encyclopedias online, as well as using the atlas program.
The main advantage of Mrs. Jones and her class is that every student can
use the atlas program to gather more information about what they are
studying, which is a lot more appealing for children than reading a book.
2. It is obvious that Mrs. Jones makes a lot of mistakes and there are
several disadvantages regarding her use of technology in the classroom.
The main disadvantage is that she encourages her students to take
students off of the Internet, including graphics and text, and use them
in their PowerPoint without naming their sources or thinking about
copyright laws. She never once addresses copyright laws or their
significance. Her students will continue doing projects and research
without citing their sources and acknowledging that they are using
someone elses work. They will continue to think that it is okay to use someone elses work and call it their own. Mrs. Jones really should have addressed
this topic with her class so they do not freely take anything from the
Internet to add to their presentation. Instead, she should encourage them
to make their own work and be creative. Another disadvantage is that
these students are not learning anything really useful, if they are
learning at all. They are rarely on task or focused on their project, so
the information they gather probably will not be retained.
Posted by Stephanie Luddy at May 4, 2006 02:25 PM
1.) One advantage of technology in the classroom is that it allows
students to explore an array of information at their fingertips to
enhance any lesson or content that is being learned. In educational
settings, technology use becomes a tool for research and further
learning. By having computers and Internet access in the classroom
students can extend their learning and knowledge on any given topic. By
having access to this information, the possibilities for further projects
and activities are endless. Based on my prior knowledge, having internet
access in the classroom is extremely beneficial as a tool to have to look
up inquiries students have on a subject and as a research tool for
projects. From what I have learned this year, there are many other ways
the Internet can be useful in enhancing lessons. Webquests are a great
tool because they are activities and lessons that students complete
themselves with the use of the Internet that guides them in their
learning towards a final product.
2.) One disadvantage of technology in education is that it brings so much
information into the classroom that it becomes difficult to monitor and
distinguish what is appropriate and valid. It puts students at the risk
of accessing information that is not credible. Many times it is hard to
distinguish which information is reliable or not. It also gives students
access to inappropriate information that has no place in an educational
setting. Monitoring this information becomes increasing difficult as the
Internet is constantly growing. In my own experiences, even though the
school I attended had security programs and search engines that limited
the information one could access, inappropriate information still got
through. As a student who has had to do research on the Internet for
projects and assignments I have also found it difficult to find
information that I could trust or I knew came from a credible source.
Posted by Laura Shucosky at May 4, 2006 02:29 PM
1.) Technology in the classroom helps students interact with the material
in an entertaining and yet educational manner. Students can explore a
country half a world away from just a chair in a classroom. Games allow
students to practice how to do math problems, for example, and learn from
their mistakes. In other games, like the Oregon Trail, students can
simulate traveling across the country and see first-hand the problems
these settlers would have faced. Students also find using computers fun
and enjoy using computer programs and the Internet. Furthermore, a
teacher can use multimedia to improve their lesson. For example, when
teaching about the atomic bomb, he or she could use an online video of
the bomb in their lesson. PowerPoint presentations provide an easy way to
structure your lesson and provide insightful examples for the students to
learn from.
2.) There are also disadvantages. Teaching students how to properly use
the Internet and certain computer programs is a time-consuming process.
There is a constant threat of kids going online and going to
inappropriate sites because the teacher cannot keep track of what every
child is doing at the same time. In Period 3 of Mrs. Jones class,
students were in the back of the room watching movies instead of
doing the work assigned. Not every child has a computer at home so in a
single class, you could have a child who is skilled at using a computer
and also one who doesnt even know how to turn one on. There are also copyright issues, as in
the case of Mrs. Jones. She illegally installed copies of a program to
every computer in the class. When designing their own PowerPoint,
students are instructed to use any graphics from the Internet. This is
also an issue if students do not list their sources.
Posted by Whitney Jones at May 4, 2006 02:29 PM
1. There are a wide variety of the types of technology that can be used
in the classroom. The use of technology is not just limited to using
computers and Internet. Multimedia sources such as audio or video clips
can be used to supplement any kind of lesson, especially for lessons that
emphasize multiculturalism and exploring different cultures, which
students would be able to do without leaving the classroom. Videos can be
used for visual learners and also for subjects that students would not be
able to experience without leaving the classroom. Potentially dangerous
scenarios can be simulated or experienced from the safety of the classroom, such as seeing the impact
of an
atomic bomb, or the feeding habits of a great white shark. Now that
classrooms are better equipped with computers and projectors, teachers
can make powerpoint presentations to have a visual available when
presenting students with new information and materials without worrying
about students missing key points, since they are written on the board.
It is also good preparation for students to multitask and read notes
while listening to a teacher talk, since that is so common in upper grade
levels.
2. Technology has many uses, however, a teacher cannot become too
reliable on using technology in the classroom. In this generation, using
technology, such as computers and Internet, is fast and convenient.
However, I think that doing things the old-fashionedway is still a
valuable skill that students must be taught. For
example, when doing research, nowadays people just get online and do a
Google search instead of physically going to a library to check out books
and resources there. Many students in college can go for an entire year
or semester without entering a library and encountering books. If
students at a young age are not exposed to such resources, they will not
even know they are available or know how to use them. Also, when lessons
are so centered on technology, there is the assumption that the system
cannot fail. Considering that technology still is not always reliable and
flawed, there should be backup plans that do not involved technology.
What if there is a blackout? What if the computer crashes or something
breaks? A teacher must be resourceful and adaptable enough to compensate
for when technology fails.
Posted by Elizabeth Hum at May 4, 2006 02:31 PM
Mrs. Jones story was very relevant, widespread use of technology in the
classroom has many advantages. One advantage is that students will have
greater access to information. In the past the only way students could do
research was from printed sources, i.e. books, magazines, newspapers,
ect. Now however, students can use the Internet, encyclopedia programs
and other electronic sources to do research. Students are no longer
limited by their classroom and school libraries they now have all the
information they could ever want or need right at their fingertips. As a
teacher it also makes life easier because students can use computers to
have students look up facts quickly. A teacher may not have an answer to
every question he or she is asked, but they can empower a child by
letting them look up the answer to their own question. As long as
teachers are able to monitor students use of computers and the Internet I
think technology in the classroom
is a great thing.
While there are many advantages of technology in the classroom, if
students are not properly monitored technology can actually have
disadvantages to the students. As a teacher in a classroom with computers
at any given time several students may be using those computers. Teachers
will most likely be working with other students in at these times and
have trouble monitoring students on these computers. Students can get
into trouble and possibly look at inappropriate sites. Also, even if
students did not get into things they shouldnt, they could also just spend time talking to their friends on instant
messenger or looking on myspace. Teachers must find creative solutions,
like grouping students together to keep an eye on each other as they
work. It is a teachers job to make sure students are doing what they
should be when working with computers so that they will benefit students
education, not hinder it.
Posted by Alex Navarro at May 4, 2006 02:31 PM
There are many benefits to using technology in the classroom. One
advantage of widespread use of technology in the classroom is that
students will be exposed to technology earlier in life. In our society
much of what we use is based around the computer and it is necessary that
students begin to develop computer skills at a younger age. Many children
do not have access to computers at home so they do not get the exposure
to the many things that computers have to offer. By using computers in
school, all students will be able to develop the basic and necessary
skills to operate computers. By having these basic skills they will be
able to access a wealth of knowledge that can be accessed from the
Internet as well as software programs. Students can use what they learned
in the classroom and transfer it to other parts of their lives.
A disadvantage to relying on technology in the classroom is that
technology often fails. For instance, if a teacher bases a lesson around
a computer program such as PowerPoint and that technology fails, then the
lesson in turn fails. Teachers should learn to not simply rely on
technology, but have back up plans for teaching without technology. In
the case of Ms. Jones lesson where she had the students research it is
dangerous to have students rely on technology for
research purposes. If using the Internet is the only method of research
students will not have the exposure to using other methods of research in
the case that the technology fails. Students need the knowledge of using
encyclopedias in book form. By using the Internet for all research it
discredits the value of books and other teaching materials. Technology is
a wonderful tool for teachers to use in the classroom as long as it is
not the only method they use.
Posted by Tia Holmes at May 4, 2006 02:33 PM
There are many positive aspects with including technology in the
classroom. By using technology in the classroom, it links students to the
outside world (the internet). By using the Internet students are able to
look up additional information on a topic that they are learning about
and they can expand their knowledge. When using the Internet, there are
many sites that children can go to that can help them learn. For example,
elementary students can go to websites that help them read or with their
vocabulary. There were several times in high school, where we spent class
time on the computer working on an activity independently or in a group.
We used the Internet to look up websites that helped us answer questions
to a unit. We also used the Internet for scavenger hunts that required us
to go to many different places, which helped us practice our research
skills.
There are also several disadvantages with including technology in the
classroom. Since there is access to the Internet and to many different
programs, it is hard to make sure that all of the students are staying on
task. Technology is increasing in the classroom and teachers are
requiring students to use the Internet more and more, and this could
cause the students to become dependent on using the computer. With
students in the computer lab more, this gives them a chance to look at
anything they want and not stay on task. For example, when I was in high
school and we were assigned to work on the computer, there were several
students who were not doing their assignment and were instead looking at
other websites. Teachers will need to find ways to make sure students are
using the computer/internet for class assignments and not for their own
extracurricular activites.
Posted by Jennifer Claus at May 4, 2006 02:39 PM
One advantage of technology in an educational setting is the fact that
students have the latest information on topics that they are researching
without having to rely on encyclopedias or other resources which might
not be updated information. It is hard enough to find good resources
(books, magazines, encyclopedias) with the little funding we have in
public schools. With use of computers, the Internet, and software
programs, (such as Mrs. Jones using her atlas software for her
classroom). The use of this technology allows students to research
specific information about a topic with the click of a button. The use of
the Internet may also be more engaging for students, with visual displays
of information such as videos, pictures, or open forums for discussion. I
think the use of the Internet is an advantage for all types of learners
since it has so many different types of resources made just for students.
One disadvantage of technology in an educational setting is the many
risks that come along with having so much access to different
information. When students use computers, it is important for teachers to
keep track of the websites that their students are looking at, and this
is not always possible. Students are not always aware of the danger in
using the internet, and it is our duty as well to teach students about
these things. However, it is not always avoidable. With risks such as
computer viruses, use of illegal websites, talking online, or revealing
too much information about themselves, teachers might question if free
access to computers during school hours is even a good idea. The only way
to safely use computers in a classroom environment is to give students
proper information on internet safety, have a monitor assist them when
they are in a computer lab, and place restrictions on the computers so
students can only access specific teacher approved websites.
Posted by Karen Rose at May 4, 2006 02:53 PM
One advantage of the use of technology in the classroom is that it gives
students the opportunity to learn basic computer operation as well as how
to care for files and media. Basic computer operation includes the
knowledge of the various parts of a computer such as the power switch,
keyboard/mouse, various ports, hard drive, and CD/DVD components. When
this is learned, students are aware of the necessary steps to get to a
desired end once the computer is on. For example, if a student wanted to
open a blank Microsoft Word document, what steps would they take? In
addition, technology in an educational setting allows students to learn
how to care for files and media. This includes the correct ways to open
and close programs as well as how to store information for later access.
As more emphasis is placed on the use of technology in our society, it is
important for students to have a firm understanding of the importance of
being skilled in this area. Since most students use computers in school
for research and to access educational programs and because they will
most likely use them throughout their careers, it is important for
students to learn how to operate these tools.
One disadvantage of technology in an educational setting is that it takes
the need out of teacher-based instruction. One reason technology is used
in the classroom is because it allows students to put into practice the
skills that they learned in the classroom. Computers are also placed in
the classroom because it is believed that this form of technology can
teach students what teachers cannot. This is not true because children
thrive off of the human interaction they receive when they are given
instruction by a teacher. A computer cannot provide students with the
warmth and emotion that comes with teaching. Teachers are able to
verbalize the significance of learning, which is something that a
computer cannot do.
Posted by Aliyah Mangum at May 8, 2006 07:20 PM
There are many advantages to using technology in the classroom. The
internet itself can be a huge resource for teachers to use to supplement
their lessons. The internet contains such a wide variety of information
that would require thousands of books to hold it all. With computers,
teachers and students save a lot of money because they do not have to
purchase books instead they can search on the internet or use software that provides
the information or activities needed to address the topic being
discussed. Along with saving money, not having to buy or use so many
books is also beneficial to the environment. We save paper by viewing
things on computer screens. Finally, while one can find information about
history on the internet as well as in books, only the internet contains
the most current and up-to-date information about current events. Using
the internet is a great tool for teachers to use to discuss what is
happening in the world with his or her class.
A huge disadvantage to using technology in the classroom is the security
risks it poses. The internet can be a wonderful and informative tool when
used correctly, but unfortunately there are many people who use the
internet in a negative way. The internet is home to many identity
stealers or child predators. Many times students chat with their friends
or students from other schools on the internet. This can be a good thing,
but sometimes students do not know who they are talking to and may
release information that should not be released to a stranger. Many
sexual predators pose as young kids online to get information out of
students. Teachers and parents must take it upon themselves to educate
their kids about the dangers of the internet and provide them with the
knowledge and tools to make sure they are safe.
Posted by Sara Fry at May 9, 2006 02:08 PM
1. Using technology in the classroom is an innovative way to encourage
student motivation about topics that students are not always excited
about. For example, motivating struggling readers to read is often a
difficult task. Software and computer technology can aid in this process. Living Books provide colorful, interactive experiences for students.
They can read
along with the story, or just have the story read to them. By providing
sounds and visual stimulations, these programs can help to make
struggling readers excited about reading. I have seen these programs work
their magic first hand, and believe they provide unconditional
encouragement to struggling readers, which in turn helps with motivation.
Technology can not only provide motivation to struggling readers, but
also to struggling math students. Math software is widely available to
students of varying skill levels. Some even provide fun and interactive
games which allow all students to have a good time while improving their
math skills. Most importantly, just like the reading software available
the math software provides unconditional support and encouragement to
students.
2. Although technology provides endless opportunities for learning in the
classroom,it can also prove to be quite dangerous. Many of the problems
associated with technology are related to the internet. Ms. Jones
decision to allow students to surf the internet freely was not a wise
one. As there are many temptations on the internet to surf onto sites
that are inappropriate, students need strict guidance in surfing the
internet. Teachers should set rules for students about proper and
improper internet usage. Also, firewalls should be installed to protect
computers and information about students. Without these safety tools,
students are left vulnerable to predators, who seek out and prey on them.
However, by informing students on the dangers of the internet, they can
be wise surfers. Teachers need to act as guides when using the internet
in the classroom, as I have seen numerous students get off task when too
little instruction is given.
Posted by Susan Samsock at May 9, 2006 02:29 PM
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